Xiao & Aether angst

十五

⚠️Character death⚠️
——

He was a traveler, nothing new.

He wanted to be loved and love he received, yet in all the ways he didn't want it to be. Tirelessly he obeyed everyone's demands. Until one day, he simply snapped.

"Aether," Xiao paused, gripping his polearm tightly. In front of him, once his friend, now stood as his foe. "You are protecting one of the abyss." Xiao sneered, readying his polearm to attack.

The blond had tears flowing from his eyes. His hair flapping in the wind as water clouded his vision. "I didn't want to, you have to believe me Xiao. B-but I have to do what's right and I-"

His contract, to dispel anything the could cause harm to Liyue. The regret he had to fulfill his contract, his ears ringed as the man in front of him stopped all functioning.
Aether fell silent, stabbed in the stomach with a blade.

Xiao has snapped back into reality a second late. Aether had fallen over, crimson painting the scene.
"Aether, AETHER!" Xiao shook him violently, the blond coughed, gripping his stomach tightly.

"Why?" Aether whimpered, he knew the reason. He knew better than to reveal himself to the Yaksha who's contract binding him. Yet here they were, in the middle of Liyue. Xiao held onto the one he loved as he fell limp. Blinded by a contract he is forced to fulfill.

Xiao woke up in sweat, his breathing was quick. He slumped against Wangshu inn's roof. Eyes watching the gleaming stars, memories of the past still haunt him to this day.

His mouth parted, words flowed like a running river.
"I wish ... I wish I could go back in time and stop myself, traveler." Xiao curled up in a ball, yet another death caused by him. Rain began to fall from the sky, disguising Xiao's obvious cries.

Feeling a warm hand rub his back, "I know you didn't want to. I'm sorry, Xiao." The voice whispered sweet nothings, the ghost of Aether haunted him. Even through all the sweet words and forgiving statements Xiao asked the spirit to leave him be. For Aether is a constant reminder of his failure to hold back, to be consumed in rage. The traveler is kind and sweet, he was nothing but evil and defeat.

——
Xiao is forced to fulfill contract, Aether dies by Xiao's hand. Aether is part of the abyss, he showed up while Xiao was killing demons. When Xiao realizes it's Aether he notices the aura of the abyss. Making him do stuff, Aether doesn't haunt him but his spirit watches over him trying to remind Xiao that he understands he had no choice. And Xiao is filled with guilt and seeing Aether is like a stab to the heart. Reminding him he caused Aether's death and is a failure.

Oh and he told Zhongli he's quitting the contract after that and stays in Wangshu inn and never leaves. And when Zhongli told him his contract was already abolished it sent him into a spiral of pain and confusion.

Just a hc